Wire stretcher and tightener



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. B. A. STOGKIN.

WIRE STRETGHERAND TIGHTENER. No. 535,307. Patented Mar. 5, 1895.

4444M Mm (No Model.) V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. B; A.=ST.0 OKIN. WIRE STRETGHBR AND TIGHTENER.

No. 535,307. Patented Mar. 5, 1895.

mes I D mm 1 r- \XNMMM 7 mm %O %/Wm M w/ffij wz 1 0% r W. 1 ML NTED STATES FFiC PATEN WIRE STRETCHER AND TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,307, dated March 5, 1895. Application fil d August 14, 1894. Serial No. 520,302- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BERT ARVENE STOOKIN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Wichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Wire Stretchers and Tighteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings and the figures of reference thereon, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, is a side view of my improved wire stretcher and tightener. Fig. 2, is a like view of the opposite side. Fig. 3, isa top plan of the same. Fig. 4, represents the stretcher drawing a broken wire together between posts.

Fig. 5, is an edge plan of one of the lever supports. Fig. 6, is a like view of the lever support on the opposite side. Fig. 7, is a side view of one of the wire gripping hooks. Fig. 8, represents one of the hooks attached to a chain, said chain attached to the arms 3.

This invention relates to certain improvements in wire stretchers and tighteners and consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, more fully herein set forth.

Referring to the drawings 1 represents a lever; 2, the block for holding the several parts together.

3 represents arms provided with the hooks 9 for taking hold of the wire 14 as represented in Fig. 3 or for attaching to the chain 18 as shown in Fig. 4.

4 represents ears secured to the lever 1 for holding the arms 3.

5 is a lever support having one end turned outward as shown at 10 in Figs. 2, 4 and 5.

represents a lever support, on the opposite side of the block 2 and provided with the ratchet teeth 6.

7 is a ratchet pivoted to the lever 1 at 8. The lever l is pivoted to the lever supports at 12.

11 is a hook pivotally held to the block 2 by means of the bolt 19. Said hook 11 is provided with the V shaped opening 13 which has a sharpened edge for catching and holding the wire. 17 represents a like hook secured to the chains 18 and is for alike purpose.

Some of the best ways of using the stretchers are as follows: To take up the slack in a fence wire the block 2 is placed against the side of the post opposite from the fence wire. The lever l is then lifted up enough to allow the books 9 of the arms 3, to hook over the fence wire 14 as shown in Fig. 3. When the lever 1 is pressed down, drawing the said fence wire 14 around the post as shown in Fig. 3, the ratchet 7 catching in the ratchet teeth 6 will hold the lever in the desired position, when a short wire is passed between the post and the block 2 through the hollowed out place 20 in the said block 2, then around the fence wire 14 on either side of the post, when it is twisted tight with a pair of pliers. In the same manner a lath fence may be made by putting the block 2 against the lath instead of the post.

Ifthe wire 14 should be broken between the posts as shown in Fig. 4 the chain 18 is hooked on the books 9. One end of the loose wire 14 is caught in the hook 17. The other loose end of said wire 14 is caught in the hook 11, with the lever 1 lying fiat on the block 2, the wire 14 lying in the outwardly turned portion 10, when the lever 1 is raised drawing the two ends of said wire 14 together, the ratchet 7 catching in the ratchet teeth 6 holding said lever in this position while the loose ends of said wire 14 can be twisted together.

When building an ordinary barbed wire fence, the block 2 is placed against the post, and the hook 17 on the chain 18 is caught on the fence wire, the chain being attached to the lever 1 through the medium of the arms 3. The lever is then pressed down, the ratchet 7 holding it in the desired position while the wire is being secured to the post by the staple.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In the herein described wire stretcher, the combination of the lever 1, the hooked arms 3 secured to said lever, the block 2, the lever support 5 having the outwardly turned portion 10 lever support 15, having the ratchet teeth 6; ratchet 7, pivoted to the lever 1; the hook 11 secured to block 2, the chain 18 and the hook 17 attached thereto substantially as shown and for the purpose specified.

2. In a wire stretcherthe combination of the block 2 having the depressed portion 20, the lever supports 5 and 15, said support 15 having the ratchet teeth 6, the lever 1 pivotally secured to said supports, the arms 3, having the hooked ends 9, and the ratchet 7 pivotally secured to said lever, substantially as shown and for the purpose specified.

3. In the wire stretcher herein described the combination of the block 2 the lever supports 10 5 and 15, said support 15 having ratchet teeth 6, lever 1 plvotally secured to said supports, the arms 3, the chain 18, the hooks l7 and the ratchet 7 pivotally secured to the lever substantially as shown and for the purpose specified.

BERT ARVENE STOGKIN.

Witnesses:

H. L. MARTIN, JAMES ALLISON. 

